Picosecond laser patterning of PEDOT:PSS thin films

Picosecond pulsed laser (10.4 ps, 1064 nm, 5 and 50 kHz) patterning studies were performed, of PEDOT:PSS thin films of varying thickness deposited by spin coating on glass substrates, by ablating the films or by changing locally by laser irradiation the optical and electrical properties of the polymer. From a detailed observation of the morphology of single pulse ablated holes on the surfaces of the films, in combination with simple calculations, it is concluded that photomechanical ablation is the likely ablation mechanism of the films. The single pulse ablation thresholds were measured equal to 0.13–0.18 J/cm2 for films with thicknesses in the region of ∼100–600 nm. The implications on ablation line patterning of the films using different fluences, scanning speeds and pulse repetition rates, were investigated systematically. Laser irradiation of the films before ablation induces a metal–insulator transition of the polymer because of the formation of charge localization due to a possible creation of molecular disorder in the polymer and shortening of its conjugation length.